About this trip

This leisurely South America trip gives you Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue and Iguassu Falls by day, with Samba fun in Rio and Tango in Buenos Aires by night.

You'll enjoy Insider moments like… learning to mix the perfect caipirinha-Brazil's citrusy national drink-as you enjoy a barbecue night at a local churrascaria, tasty barbecued meats and freshly made cocktails.

Bemvindo ao Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival you will be met by a local host and taken to your lovely hotel. Enjoy your hotel's superb location overlooking Copacabana Beach just minutes from downtown Rio.

Hotel

Windsor Atlantica

Meals

Hotel

Windsor Atlantica

Meals

Day 1

Day 2

Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At LeisureDay 2 - Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At Leisure

Enjoy a leisurely morning before joining your Travel Director for an exploration of the cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) and its many contrasts, from the 18th century aqueduct and colonial Candelaria Church to the 20th century opera house, Sambodromo, and city cathedral. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for astounding bay and city views followed by a festive Welcome Reception with your Travel Director and fellow travellers.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Welcome Reception

Meals

Full Breakfast

Welcome Reception

Optional Experiences

Guanabara Bay Cruise

Spend two hours sailing Guanabara Bay on a schooner. Take in the beautiful views of Rio de Janeiro with Sugar Loaf Mountain towering in the distance. Pass the bay's islands and forts as you sail by picture postcard settings. Total duration is approximately 3 hours. (No Minimum)

Adult Price:

Day 2

Day 3

Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At LeisureDay 3 - Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At Leisure

Board a classic cogwheel train for the journey to the summit of majestic Corcovado, site of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After admiring the panoramic views, head back down the mountain to see the song-inspiring Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, learn how to mix the perfect caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, and then indulge in a traditional barbecue Regional Meal at a local churrascaria.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Regional Meal

Meals

Full Breakfast

Regional Meal

Optional Experiences

Santa Teresa Walking Tour

Discover the charm and beauty of Santa Teresa, which originated around a convent during the 16th Century. Once home to upper-class residents, Santa Teresa is now home to many artists with studios, galleries, museums and inviting eateries. Admire the bohemian atmosphere and beautiful architecture. Learn about the history of the area as you make your way around the neighborhood with your guide. Located on a high hill overlooking Rio, you'll have a perfect view of the city and bay below. Total duration approximately 3 ½ hours. (Minimum 6 Guests)

Adult Price:

Visit To A Favela

Visit one of Rio de Janeiro's hillside favelas on this half-day educational tour. See the day-to-day lifestyles of locals who live in Rocinha, one of Rio’s many dense favelas. Along the way, stop at a community school where there is an opportunity to purchase handicrafts made by children. With a local expert guide, you’ll travel inside the favela, interact with locals and gain a new understanding of Brazilian society. Total duration approximately 4 hours. (No Minimum)

Adult Price:

Day 3

Day 4

Rio de Janeiro At LeisureDay 4 - Rio de Janeiro At Leisure

Enjoy a full day to explore the wonders of Rio on your own. Your Travel Director will be happy to help you plan your day. Perhaps take a sailboat cruise along the coast, a helicopter ride over Copacabana or visit a nearby favela.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Samba Show

No visit to Rio de Janeiro is complete without experiencing the glamour and rhythm of a colorful samba show. Feel the spirit of Rio’s world-famous Carnival as you’re treated to a lively extravaganza of Samba song-and-dance. You’ll be caught up in the excitement of this cultural journey as you watch a light show and a stage full of beautiful dancers. This exciting mix of percussion and samba dance builds to a grand finale with a Carnival parade on stage. Total duration of this outing is five hours. Not available on Sundays. Minimum of 10 guests for a private program.

Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore on your own. Perhaps a swim in the Atlantic sounds refreshing. This afternoon, visit a Samba school, a Cultural Insight, to see how the school operates and prepares for Carnival week. See Carnival props and if you desire, join a Samba dance lesson. Then take a flight to magnificent Iguassu Falls, straddling the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Iguassu National Park boasts one of the world's largest and most impressive waterfalls and is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. This evening, enjoy dinner with your travel companions at the hotel.

Enter Iguassu National Park and spend the morning exploring the Brazilian side of the cascades with a Local Specialist, including a scenic walk through the rainforest to the base of the falls. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant with a view of the falls, return to your resort hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Take advantage of your resort's amenities or choose from a variety of optional experiences, including a jetboat ride to the base of the falls, helicopter flightseeing or a visit to a tropical bird reserve that is home to more than 500 species of birds.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Lunch

Meals

Full Breakfast

Lunch

Optional Experiences

Bird Park

This family owned park is home to more than 900 native birds from 150 species. Enjoy a self-guided walking tour along a well-marked trail through subtropical forests. Enter aviaries to get more of an up close and personal view of the birds. Total duration is approximately 2 1/2 hours. (No Minimum)

Adult Price: US$48.00

Macuco Safari

Begin this adventure in open-air wagons as you work your way through lush sub-tropical forests. Then hike down the canyon where the Macuco Falls tumble over basalt cliffs into the Iguassu basin. Here, board a custom-designed inflatable motorboat for a 20-30 minute exhilarating ride to the base of the falls. Total duration approximately 2 hours. (No Minimum)

Cross the border into Argentina for a walk along a scenic catwalk to view the thunderous Devil's Throat Falls with a Local Specialist. Ride in an open air ecological jungle train for a different perspective of the mighty cascades. Then fly to Buenos Aires and arrive at your stylish hotel. Argentina's sizzling capital is renowned for its international designer boutiques, fine dining venues, museums, cultural pursuits and modern theatres.

Embark with a Local Specialist on a guided tour of the passionate city where the Tango was born. See the Casa Rosada, Metropolitan Cathedral and other government buildings; the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca; San Telmo and lovely Palermo, home to fashionable cafés and verdant parks. Stare in awe at the famous Teatro Colon, a landmark in Buenos Aires. Lastly, visit the Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentina's former first lady, Eva Peron (Evita), is buried. This evening, do as the locals do and linger over a Regional Meal and a chance for an authentic taste of world-renowned Argentinian beef. Cap off the evening watching the best Tango dancers in Buenos Aires perform, a Cultural Insight, and experience the passion and power of the traditional Tango, the most representative and beloved music in Argentina.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Regional Meal

Meals

Full Breakfast

Regional Meal

Optional Experiences

Fiesta Gaucha With BBQ Lunch

Enjoy a great day as you head out into the pampas to visit an authentic 3,000 acre (1200 hectare) working estancia (Argentinean ranch) that dates back to the late 19th century. A BBQ will be served family style by Gauchos. Enjoy activities throughout the day including a folklore show, carriage rides and horse demonstrations. Total duration is approximately 7 hours. (No Minimum). For Private Trafalgar Transportation, a Minimum of 15 Guests is Required.

Adult Price:

Tigre Delta

Head to the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires to the lush countryside of the Tigre Delta on this outing. This area is a popular weekend getaway for Buenos Aires residents. The delta features pretty scenery, lovely summer residences, relaxing vibe, yachting and a chance to see another way of Argentine life. Your tour includes a cruise on the delta and if you are visiting on Saturdays, you can stroll through the local outdoor market. Total duration approximately 4 hours. (No Minimum)

Adult Price:

Day 8

Day 9

Buenos Aires At LeisureDay 9 - Buenos Aires At Leisure

Relish a morning and afternoon at leisure to pursue your own interests in the 'Paris of South America'. The possibilities are endless. Delve into one of the country's finest museums at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, set in a lovely park in the Recoleta neighbourhood. Follow in the footsteps of Argentina's most revered writer, Jorge Luis Borges, as you browse the many bookstores and sip a coffee at the famed Cafe Tortoni. If you'd like to experience a different side of Argentina, choose an optional trip into the countryside to a traditional estancia (ranch); share a drink with the local gauchos (cowboys), learn about their lives and marvel at their consummate horsemanship during a lively equestrian show before sitting down to a traditional parrillada (barbecue) lunch. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for an exclusive Be My Guest Farewell Dinner experience in Palermo Soho. You will be welcomed by a local family who are long-time residents of this now-trendy neighbourhood. Be delighted, as they wine and dine you with homemade family recipes in the kitchen and discover the secrets of kneading country bread. Watch as your hosts demonstrate the art of typical Argentinian crafts. Spending time with this family will be an experience you won't soon forget.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Day 9

Day 10

Depart Buenos AiresDay 10 - Depart Buenos Aires

Say hasta luego to Argentina today and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or you may choose to extend your stay at the InterContinental Buenos Aires.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Meals

Full Breakfast

Day 10

Available Departures

Please see http://www.trafalgar.com:80/sa/tours/impressions-of-south-america for the latest discounts & departure information.

The Trafalgar Difference

Be My Guest
Dine at the home of a local family in the Palermo Soho neighbourhood.

Cultural Insights
Learn about the Tango at a performance in Buenos Aires. Visit a Samba school to see how they prepare for Carnival.

The Trafalgar Experience

Simply Authentic

Enjoy

Enjoy the wonder of travel, crisscrossing the globe through the seasons. On effortless adventures in breathtaking new horizons, forge lifelong friendships and memories. Our lovingly crafted itineraries are a fascinating mosaic of cultures, flavours, festivals and local stories. We’re with you all the way, guiding you and ensuring you experience the real thing: the sheer love of travel, entirely hassle-free.

Simply Authentic

Love... Travel

"Is simply the best way to position what our guests love to experience and what we love to deliver" - Gavin Tollman CEO

Simply Authentic

Meet

Meet warm-hearted locals and like-minded travellers. Along your journey of discovery, stop to share stories and flavours with local farmers, chefs and winemakers. Pause to admire the handicrafts and rich traditions of amazing artisans. Explore the essence of Europe through captivating accounts shared by expert historians and savvy local guides.

Simply Authentic

Taste

Travelling with your tastebuds, treating them to new flavours, spices and textures along the way. From the very first breakfast to the last nightcap, travelling through Europe indulges your palate, with every meal an opportunity to discover regional fare. Savour each new flavour, try the local tipple and take home fresh culinary inspiration. Let us share our love for food and hospitality with you.

Simply Authentic

Unwind

Once you've packed your suitcase, we take care of the rest, removing all your concerns so that you can be secure in the knowledge that an award-winning global company with an impeccable reputation has taken care of every little detail. We arrange everything you'll need along your journey - meals, accommodation and travel logistics, because we are with you all the way. Travel the world with peace of mind, knowing you’re in the hands of Trafalgar.

Guest Reviews and Ratings

Service rating : Well organized and things went smoothly.Product : Great itinerary. Maybe more could have been included rather than optional.

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Service rating : Great tour leader, great hotel and great food., the mix of the tour group is great. Highly recommendedProduct : Great tour director, great hotel good food. Great mix of interesting travelers !

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I was impressed with the service provided by the tour director and all the support staff. Very professional specially when faced with unexpected changes to our schedule and in some instances travelers who were not so polite.

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Excellent on all levels.

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Service rating : Services was very good and I don't have any complains. In general everything in the scale of 1 to 5 was 4, I was expecting a little higher class in everything such as better shows and Tango Dances. But I had a good time anyhow. The foods were excellent. Our tour guide, Mr.

Crossovers: All 2016 departures will operate per the 2016 brochure. Hotels and inclusions may vary. Please inquire at the time of booking.

Land and Intra Air: prices include economy air and air-related charges for flights between Rio de Janeiro-Iguassu and Iguassu-Buenos Aires and require purchase of round-trip air travel on LATAM between your gateway city and the itinerary's start and end gateway cities (ticket number required). If flying with another airline between your gateway city and the itinerary's start and end gateway cities, the above prices will be higher. Prices are accurate as of 1 May 2016. For up-to-date information, see Terms and Conditions.

Guaranteed Room Share is not available on this trip.

Festive Departures: We've arranged a Christmas or New Year's Eve celebration for these departures.

Trafalgar offers a selection of optional Itinerary Extensions to customize your vacation in South America. Please note, you cannot book these extensions online. To book and for more information, please contact your local Travel Agent or Trafalgar directly. For more information about the optional extensions offered on this program, please go to www.trafalgar.com/extensions.

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.

Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).

For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.